Balloon Pulmonary AngioplastyBalloon Pulmonary Angioplasty Balloon pulmonary angioplasty, or BPA for short, is a technique for widening narrowed or blocked blood vessels in the lungs of CTEPH patients. Small balloons attached to a catheter restore blood flow to areas of the lungs that do not receive blood due to the disease.  When successful, BPA eliminates or reduces shortness of breath, increases exercise tolerance and quality of life, and extends life expectancy. (BPABalloon Pulmonary Angioplasty Balloon pulmonary angioplasty, or BPA for short, is a technique for widening narrowed or blocked blood vessels in the lungs of CTEPH patients. Small balloons attached to a catheter restore blood flow to areas of the lungs that do not receive blood due to the disease.  When successful, BPA eliminates or reduces shortness of breath, increases exercise tolerance and quality of life, and extends life expectancy.) for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary HypertensionChronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension CTEPH is short for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a rare form of high blood pressure in the lungs caused by blood clots or narrowed blood vessels. High blood pressure in the lungs is often also called pulmonary hypertension. (CTEPHChronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension CTEPH is short for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, a rare form of high blood pressure in the lungs caused by blood clots or narrowed blood vessels. High blood pressure in the lungs is often also called pulmonary hypertension.)—The Uphill Battle for an Effective Therapy is a video lecture presented by Dr. Zachary L. Steinberg of the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Dr. Steinberg shares his expertise and opinions on the use of BPA for treating CTEPH.

Warning: The video contains graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.

The lecture was hosted by Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and live-streamed on YouTube on March 23, 2023.

Target audience

The presentation is a valuable resource for medical professionals looking to educate themselves about the use of BPA in treating CTEPH.

However, it is less suitable for the general public or CTEPH patients unfamiliar with BPA. The detailed discussion of historical complications and the complexities of treating various lesion types could overwhelm or even worry those unfamiliar with BPA. Without the proper medical background knowledge, general audiences might misinterpret the information and be scared away from opting for BPA treatment.

The Q&A section (starting at 55:48) is certainly worth watching for those who specialize in BPA interventions and are already familiar with the basics of BPA. It offers a unique opportunity to hear Dr. Steinberg’s opinions on specific challenges and nuances of the procedure.

The history of BPA

Part of the lecture traces the evolution of BPA, from its early period to the establishment of today’s safe and effective standards, with a focus on the groundbreaking contributions of Dr. Hiromi Matsubara and other pioneers.

Treatment options

In addition to a deep dive into balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA), Dr. Steinberg briefly discusses other treatment options for CTEPH. He touches on pulmonary endarterectomyPulmonary Endarterectomy For patients with operable CTEPH, pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) remains the treatment of choice. Obstructive material (old blood clots and scar tissue) is surgically removed from the arteries in the lungs. PEA is technically challenging, requiring intermittent total circulatory arrest conducted under severe hypothermia. Yet, PEA has been demonstrated to improve pulmonary hemodynamics and survival rate, which is otherwise poor in CTEPH patients. PEA is also known as pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). - References: Darocha et al., 2021. doi: 10.3390/jcm10051038 and Pulmonary Endarterectomy - St Vincent's Lung Health. Retrieved 6 November 2022 (PEAPulmonary Endarterectomy For patients with operable CTEPH, pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) remains the treatment of choice. Obstructive material (old blood clots and scar tissue) is surgically removed from the arteries in the lungs. PEA is technically challenging, requiring intermittent total circulatory arrest conducted under severe hypothermia. Yet, PEA has been demonstrated to improve pulmonary hemodynamics and survival rate, which is otherwise poor in CTEPH patients. PEA is also known as pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). - References: Darocha et al., 2021. doi: 10.3390/jcm10051038 and Pulmonary Endarterectomy - St Vincent's Lung Health. Retrieved 6 November 2022 , also known as PTE), a complex surgical procedure, and medical therapies that can provide some relief but do not cure the condition.

A must-watch

This lecture targets medical professionals to enhance their understanding of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty (BPA) for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH). Those who are familiar with BPA may find Dr. Steinberg’s insights and the Q&A section (starting at 55:48) worth watching.